USS Liberty Survivor Named US Delegate on Gaza Flotilla

A survivor of the Israeli attack on the USS Liberty that killed 34 U.S. sailors has joined the Freedom Flotilla headed towards Gaza, as Joe Lauria reports.

By Joe LauriaSpecial to Consortium News

Joe Meadors, a survivor of the 1967 Israeli attack on the USS Liberty, has joined the 2018 Gaza Freedom Flotilla as the delegate from the United States. He will board the Al Awda (The Return), which left Corisca Sunday night for the final 1,000 miles to Gaza. Al Awda is one of four boats on the 75-day voyage from Scandinavia.

Meadors was a signalman on the bridge of the USS Liberty, a surveillance vessel operating in international waters of the Mediterranean Sea near Gaza during the 1967 Six-Day Arab-Israreli war.

“1. That on June 8, 1967, after eight hours of aerial surveillance, Israel launched a two-hour air and naval attack against USS Liberty, the world’s most sophisticated intelligence ship, inflicting 34 dead and 173 wounded American servicemen (a casualty rate of seventy percent, in a crew of 294);

2. That the Israeli air attack lasted approximately 25 minutes, during which time unmarked Israeli aircraft dropped napalm canisters on USS Liberty‘s bridge, and fired 30mm cannons and rockets into our ship, causing 821 holes, more than 100 of which were rocket-size; survivors estimate 30 or more sorties were flown over the ship by a minimum of 12 attacking Israeli planes which were jamming all five American emergency radio channels;

3. That the torpedo boat attack involved not only the firing of torpedoes, but the machine-gunning of Liberty‘s firefighters and stretcher-bearers as they struggled to save their ship and crew; the Israeli torpedo boats later returned to machine-gun at close range three of the Liberty‘s life rafts that had been lowered into the water by survivors to rescue the most seriously wounded;

4. That there is compelling evidence that Israel’s attack was a deliberate attempt to destroy an American ship and kill her entire crew; evidence of such intent is supported by statements from Secretary of State Dean Rusk, Undersecretary of State George Ball, former CIA director Richard Helms, former NSA directors Lieutenant General William Odom, USA (Ret.), Admiral Bobby Ray Inman, USN (Ret.), and Marshal Carter; former NSA deputy directors Oliver Kirby and Major General John Morrison, USAF (Ret.); and former Ambassador Dwight Porter, U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon in 1967;

After the attack.

5. That in attacking USS Liberty, Israel committed acts of murder against American servicemen and an act of war against the United States;

6. That fearing conflict with Israel, the White House deliberately prevented the U.S. Navy from coming to the defense of USS Liberty by recalling Sixth Fleet military rescue support while the ship was under attack; evidence of the recall of rescue aircraft is supported by statements of Captain Joe Tully, Commanding Officer of the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga, and Rear Admiral Lawrence Geis, the Sixth Fleet carrier division commander, at the time of the attack; never before in American naval history has a rescue mission been cancelled when an American ship was under attack… .”

Dean Rusk, U.S. Secretary of State at the time of the incident, wrote: “I was never satisfied with the Israeli explanation. Their sustained attack to disable and sink Liberty precluded an assault by accident or some trigger-happy local commander. Through diplomatic channels we refused to accept their explanations. I didn’t believe them then, and I don’t believe them to this day. The attack was outrageous.”

Meadorsand Seaman Francis Brown, who was later killed in the attack, hauled up a second American flag from the bridge after the first was shot down early in the air assault. Meadors remained on the bridge throughout the 25-minute attack and was one of several eyewitnesses to the Israeli machine-gunning of the ship’s life rafts.

Meadors has described the Israeli attack in detail on the USS Liberty Veteran’s Association website:

“I watched some jets pass us, then turn left after they passed our ship, then they started strafing us. The attack lasted 90 minutes, during which we got a message off to the Sixth Fleet asking for assistance. We learned later that Joe Tully, commanding officer of the USS Saratoga, launched aircraft within minutes of the attack, but he told us later they were recalled before they reached the horizon. We found this out 20 years after the attack.

“The most frustrating thing has been a lack of reaction from the U.S. government. On June 8, 2005, we filed a war crimes report, and they are required to investigate these allegations. They’ve created reports about our mission, but they never did conduct an actual investigation of the attack itself.

“It was an illegal attack. We were on the high seas conducting legal activities. They admitted that they closed the area for military purposes but we tried to find out the boundaries of that area and they wouldn’t tell us.

“The Israelis break international laws with impunity and the U.S. government is not going to hold them accountable, nobody is. There is no doubt that the Israelis were committing piracy on the high seas against the 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla and used deadly force against unarmed humanitarians.”

Meadors was aboard the Sfedoni in the 2010 Gaza Freedom Flotilla. He was in Greece for the 2011 and 2015 Freedom Flotillas. Born in Corpus Christi, Texas, Meadors is a past president of USS Liberty Veterans Association, founded in 1982.

The Flotillas aim to bring attention to the illegal blockade imposed by Israel on Gaza since 2007.

Joe Lauria is editor-in-chief of Consortium News and a former correspondent for the Boston Globe, Wall Street Journal, Sunday Times of London and numerous other publications. He can be reached at joelauria@consortiumnews.com and on Twitter @unjoe .

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101 comments for “USS Liberty Survivor Named US Delegate on Gaza Flotilla”

Johnny Canuck

July 20, 2018 at 8:50 pm

If any other country had done this malicious, cowardly, vile, intentional act to the USA, they would still be climbing out of the rubble.

Berna

July 12, 2018 at 10:36 pm

The USS Liberty was owned and operated by the U.S. Navy, which euphemistically referred to her as one of its Technical Research Ships, but she really worked for NSA. I.e., it was a spy ship. And as spies, they didn’t want anyone to know what they were up to so they didn’t inform the Israeli military their mission or location. They were therefore in constant danger of attack from any of the countries then at war in the area. If it had been the Egyptians who had attacked the Liberty, the same conspiracy theories would have arisen accusing the Egyptians of an intentional attack on a American ship in order to deter the Americans who were secretly helping the Israelis (though that was not the case).

Robert

July 13, 2018 at 10:11 am

You act as if there was some doubt as to whether it was a Navy ship. It was flying an American flag from tne start.

Dan

July 13, 2018 at 11:10 am

True. I’ve been saying that it was a spy ship and probably coming out of Israeli waters with a false flag at the time.

rgl

July 13, 2018 at 9:55 pm

The Liberty was attacked in intl waters. That is not supposed to happen unless you are at war. It doesn’t matter if the Liberty was a spy ship, a cruise liner, or a rowboat with a Palestinian fisherman in it. You don’t shoot at things that do not pose any threat to you, and as I said, in international waters.

The Liberty made NO EFFORT to disguise that it was a US naval vessel – it matters not a whit to whom it answered to, it was a United States naval asset. She had her ensign hoisted. For Israel to say it did not know the ship was American is ludicrous. Israeli jets buzzed Liberty a couple of times, and one of the pilots even asked for confirmation of the shoot order.

Your post would have validity but for the fact that the Liberty was a recognized US vessel.

Tony Sustak

July 19, 2018 at 1:43 am

Based on the documentary, Liberty: Dead In The Water, produced by the BBC in 2002, the zionists knew full well who their military was shooting at. According to the documentary, the Navy, thinking the attack was by the Egytians, dispatched planes to drop nukes on Egytip in retaliation. A result the Zionists were tryint to provoke. McNamara called back the planes.

Both the US government and their Zionist buddies are rotten to the core.

On June 8, 1967, US Navy intelligence ship USS Liberty was suddenly and brutally attacked on the high seas in international waters by the air and naval forces of Israel. The Israeli forces attacked with full knowledge that this was an American ship and lied about it. Survivors have been forbidden for 40 years to tell their story under oath to the American public. This USS Liberty Memorial web site tells their story and is dedicated to the memory of the 34 brave men who died.

After surveilling USS Liberty for more than nine hours with almost hourly aircraft over flights and radar tracking, the air and naval forces of Israel attacked our ship in international waters without warning. USS Liberty was identified as a US naval ship nine hours before the attack by Israeli reconnaissance aircraft and continuously tracked by Israeli radar and aircraft thereafter. Sailing in international waters at less than five knots, with no offensive armament, our ship was not a military threat to anyone.

The Israeli forces attacked without warning and without attempting to contact us. Thirty four Americans were killed in the attack and another 174 were wounded. The ship, a $40 Million Dollar state of the art signals intelligence platform, was later declared unsalvageable and sold for scrap.

Berna

July 12, 2018 at 10:16 pm

During the Six-Day War between Israel and several Arab nations, the United States of America maintained a neutral country status. Several days before the war began, the USS Liberty was ordered to proceed to the eastern Mediterranean area to perform a signals intelligence collection mission in international waters near the north coast of Sinai, Egypt. The reasons for this are unclear if not unknown and placed the ship within a war zone and susceptible to attack. Egyptian military ships were know to disguise there ships. After the war erupted, due to concerns about her safety as she approached her patrol area, several messages were sent to Liberty to increase her allowable closest point of approach (CPA) to Egypt’s and Israel’s coasts but these messages were not received in time.

The USA, with President LBJ in office, was not supporting Israel during this war. The US was heavily dependent on Arab oil and did not want that supply jeopardized. Also, Egypt had military support from the Soviets and Johnson did not want to provoke the Soviets. Years later, after Nixon gave material support to Israel, Arab oil supplies were cutoff leading to an oil crisis.

At the start of the war on 5 June, General Yitzhak Rabin (then IDF Chief of Staff) informed Commander Ernest Carl Castle, the American Naval Attaché in Tel Aviv, that Israel would defend its coast with every means at its disposal, including sinking unidentified ships. Also, he asked the U.S. to keep its ships away from Israel’s shore or at least inform Israel of their exact position.

The bottom line is that the USS Liberty, a military ship, had no business being in the area, a war zone, especially since it did not inform the Israeli military of its location.

david

July 12, 2018 at 7:21 pm

I do not want to minimize the USS Liberty event, but there were two other events that the world seems to have forgotten
Israel shooting down Libyan Arab Air Flight 114. Great audio of Nixon discussing it with Billy Gram
and
Operation Susannah or the Lavon Affair

Pazzy P

July 12, 2018 at 12:15 pm

LBJ, the POTUS at the time, took no action knowing the CIA electronic surveillance spy ship broke American & int’l laws by spying & espionage against an ally country during time of war.

When the attack began, it had no identifying signal flags identifying themselves an a US military vessel. Hosting flags after the attack began was seen as a ploy to avoid the assault.

The US screwed up, and knew it.

Skip Scott

July 12, 2018 at 1:01 pm

I was wondering when a troll would show up. You guys are usually a lot quicker.

1. USS Liberty was in international waters at the time of the attack.
2. It was flying it’s flag, and replaced it when the first one was shot down.
3. Please cite the laws about surveillance you’re referring to. I did a search and found nothing.
4. http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/ussliberty.html

Dan

July 13, 2018 at 11:15 am

The reason you found nothing is that the NSA, even after 50 years, does not release the facts. Doing so implicates the US as liars.

Skip Scott

July 13, 2018 at 11:30 am

Dan-

I found no such law, either US or International, saying that it is illegal for any country to spy on an ally during war time. Go troll some place else.

Peter

July 11, 2018 at 12:22 am

Say what you like about the attack, but at the end of the day LBJ has sent USS Liberty for potential slaughter knowing he would not have defended it against Israel. I am disgusted with Israelis for trying to sink the ship, but even more disgusted with LBJ and US leadership for sending US servicemen to den of wolves without means to defend themselves or backing in case of an attack. LBJ was literally a traitor to America, as Israel did what is in their best interest at the cost of America and American lives. Ironically, we see this happen over and over again in our current foreign policy which is heavily favored towards Israel and AIPAC has the best Congress it can buy. So much so that we went as far as conquering Middle East and wanting to usher the era of democracy there, wasting thousands of human lives and countless trillions of dollars while tying ourselves up in wars that we can’t win which continue to drain our resources. Not to mention In America, we are being told and believe that we are free, it’s a joke. Americans are slaves, and many don’t even realize it.

Pazzy P

July 12, 2018 at 12:20 pm

Other than antisemitic blogs, I have seem no definitive proof that LBJ knew they were in Israeli waters until the attack ah begun.

He may have allowed the mission to proceed, but the vessels commanders were responsible for intruding into Israeli waters to pass on IDF ‘chatter’ to the Egyptians during a war.

This will probably get removed, but I am the only candidate for Congress calling for all funds to be withheld–just like President Eisenhower withheld until they left the Sinai–until Israel withdraws to the 1967 border and ends the occupation. My wife worked with USS Liberty survivor Joe Lentini. This is not the only time Israel has murdered Americans who were providing support. Col. Mickey Marcus, former staff to Patton, was sent by Eisenhower to organize and train the Irgun. He and he alone is why Israel won their war of independence. For his efforts he was murdered AFTER Israel won, probably by the Stern Gang, though all facts are still secret. I propose adding accountability for all such American deaths. As a Vietnam Veteran, a shout out to Meadors. If the Turkish Navy were to send an escort the blockade of Gaza would simply melt away.

Bashir

July 10, 2018 at 6:46 pm

i think if President Eisenhower was in charge when this happen he probably would of attacked back.

JWalters

July 11, 2018 at 12:54 am

David Moore, thank you for your courageous stand on this issue. Your case is very strong, and I believe you will have a groundswell of support that has been suppressed by America’s media. Four other congressional candidates who are speaking up about Israel’s crimes were recently covered in“Dems have four congressional candidates willing to criticize Israel — and ‘reap political rewards’”https://mondoweiss.net/2018/07/congressional-candidates-criticize/

Your website with the links to educate people is great. I especially appreciate your links to Eisenhower’s “Cross of Iron” (MIC) speech, and to “The Silent Coup” article about America’s banking oligarchy. America needs to find its way back to the truth and its basic values.

As a vet, you will appreciate the need for top-level personal security as you take on the ruthless and deceptive war profiteers, who care naught for America or its values. http://warprofiteerstory.blogspot.com

Pazzy P

July 12, 2018 at 12:38 pm

For a potential Congressman you’re extremely uninformed, yet ready to speak definitively. Only fools would offer their votes to such candidates.

1) USS Liberty was NOT “providing support”.. at least not to Israel. It was a CIA electronic surveillance spy ship in Israeli waters….WITHOUT USA SIGNAL FLAGS hoisted when the attack began… AND in time of war!!

2) Col. Mickey Marcus was so loved and admired he was the IDF’s very first General.
His death was a tragic mistake.
He ‘wandered off’ to have a smoke, and a changing of the guards took place, with the new soldier not knowing English, and Gen. Marcus unable to convey the proper ‘response’ when asked in Hebrew what was the ‘code’. He was killed in the dark of night unable to identify himself…immediately after a battle. The war was not yet over.

He will always hold a very special place in Israeli history, and no Israeli child goes without learning of his contributions to the IDF.

SHAME on you for spreading such lies about his death. Shame!

anon

July 12, 2018 at 8:26 pm

You obviously lie about the Liberty. The evidence is that the ship was well marked and the Israelis well knew that it was a US military vessel. Take your murderous racism back to Israel.

anona

July 12, 2018 at 8:29 pm

The evidence is that the ship was well marked and the Israelis well knew that it was a US military vessel. Your murderous racism needs lies for support.

Carl Rising-Moore

July 10, 2018 at 12:02 am

Thank you brave humanitarian activists. The world is watching you as you approach Gaza.

anon

July 10, 2018 at 8:28 am

Yes, the courage of the crew and Mr Meadors is inspiring. But the vessel should have an escort by some powerful nation such as Spain, Italy, or ideally Russia. Then if an Israeli attack occurs, Russia can occupy and fortify Gaza as it deserves, to break the blockade and discredit the US/Israel fascists. This would be an excellent move for Russia, allowing it to gain influence and show the wrongdoing of its opponents. It would be a reverse “Liberty” incident and an historic act of humanitarianism.

Rob Roy

July 10, 2018 at 10:05 am

anon,

Wow, now that’s an idea to ponder!

Lin Cleveland

July 10, 2018 at 2:08 pm

Indeed!

Curious

July 12, 2018 at 1:27 am

I can’t help but wonder the content of the discussions in Russia when BiBi travels to Moscow, since he carries with him a very loaded agenda. Could he have the clout to ask Putin to back off? I always wonder about these Israeli trips to Moscow, so the issue may not be as clear as we think.
Since Israel is loaded with undeclared nuclear weapons I can’t help but think the plot thickens.

Pazzy P

July 12, 2018 at 12:41 pm

The Jerusalem District Court issued a temporary confiscation order allowing Israel to impound 2 Norwegian ships planning to sail to Gaza, “for assisting a terror organization and for systematic violations of international law” and their proceeds will be paid as compensation to families that fell victim to Palestinian terror.
? – I hope when these vessels are intercepted by the Israeli Navy, an officer thanks them wholeheartedly for their contribution in assisting the Israeli victims to Palestinian terror

Skip Scott

July 12, 2018 at 3:24 pm

So Palestinians inflict “terror”, but the IDF “mowing the grass” and using white phosphorus on civilians is “self defense”. Got it.

If there was ever and anti-gravity machine, it’s the Liberty story. I defies all logic, except for just one scenario. There is only one possible way a 1967 Israel in the middle of the Six Day War would ever take a chance on so brazen an attack. Israel of those days ( and today too, for that matter) could not risk alienating the US of A at such a critical time when they would certainly need American support. They would never do it for a “loose cannon” like a General LeMay or and Admiral McCain. They would never do it for the CIA, not sink an US Navy ship anyways. NO, THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY AN ISRAEL OF 1967 WOULD TAKE SUCH A RISK AND GO TO SUCH OBVIOUS EFFORTS TO SINK A US NAVY SHIP. AND THAT IS ON ORDERS FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES!. Did you hear that? So using the Liberty attack is a non-starter anyways, since it was really a fratricidal attack by America, and it won’t go anywhere because the Americans will never investigate and implicate Johnson with it.

Pft

July 9, 2018 at 8:02 pm

It was the assassination of JFK that got LBJ in. JFK was going to shut down Israels nuclear program and was kissing up to Nasser. Once LBJ took over our policy toward Israel changed on a dime.

JWalters

July 9, 2018 at 8:51 pm

Thanks for these extremely relevant points. Other aspects of the JFK-Israel connection are discussed in “War Profiteers and the JFK Assassination” at http://warprofiteerstory.blogspot.com

Johnson and the USS Liberty attack is discussed at the same site in the article on the 9/11 attack.

jsinton’s post looks like an attempt to steer attention away from Israel.

Not so fast. One would have to question the reason Johnson would`ve given the green light for the attack.
And, just who benefits here.
It is rather obvious that the US entering the war would only benefit Israel. But for that a false flag was needed (as with the Tonkin ¨incident¨).
So yes, technically Johnson was a traitor – nothing new with that – but logically, the orders would’ve come from Israel´s handlers as we have seen so blatantly during the short course of this century.

Joe Kelsall

July 10, 2018 at 8:00 am

The Liberty incident was to be the false flag operation which was intended to get the USA to attack Egypt.
Unfortunately, the ship survived. That way, Israel got 2 wars for the price of one!

Rob Roy

July 10, 2018 at 10:17 am

As for the six day war, Israel was not attacked by Egypt, Jordan and Syria as they’ve always claimed. The Israelis told both the UK and the US that they were going to attack these countries and wanted the UK’s and US’s backing. Both England and the United States told Israel not to attack. Yet, when Israel attacked these unprepared countries, the UK and US supported them, a huge mistake that we’ve been paying for ever since.

All the best to the stalwart people as they make a stand for the freedom of Gazans. The world is watching and backing them.

Richard M

July 10, 2018 at 3:13 pm

I don’t know about that — the US for days/weeks before the 6-Day War provided Israel with high-quality reconnaissance photos of the Egyptian military and air force deployments, which Israel did not at the time have technical capability of getting on their own. Seems like an odd way of expressing disapproval of an Israeli military attack.

Tom F

July 11, 2018 at 8:20 pm

Yes, it would seem that the US and Israel share culpability in regard to this disgraceful incident.

rgl

July 13, 2018 at 10:17 pm

And it almost worked. The 6th fleet launched a ‘ready-reponse’ aircraft – jargon for a nuke armed airplane, to vaporize Cairo. Thankfully, the sketchy facts, even at the time, in a so-called ‘fog of war’, illuminated the fact that it was Israel, and not Egypt which made the Liberty look like swiss cheese came to light before yankistan dropped it’s third a-bomb on another country.

Deniz

July 10, 2018 at 10:30 am

I did read a clearly Israeli view which said that, at the time, Israel was not strongly supported by the US, because the US Big Oil was more interested in Arab oil money. The Liberty was a spy ship that was feeding information to the Arabs, who were at war with Israel. The spying was considered an act of war by Israel, so they decided to blow up the ship. Johnson, did not want to take the fallout of defending the liberty because it would expose his / US duplicity with Israel, so he gave the order to sacrifice then Liberity.

I dont claim to have any special knowledge to known whether this account is accurate, but it does seem consistent with our former criminal in chiefs mendacity.

Tom F

July 11, 2018 at 8:23 pm

You don’t claim to have any special knowledge but your intention to get Israel of the hook is abundantly clear.

Pazzy P

July 12, 2018 at 12:51 pm

jsinton,

There is still the most obvious (IMHO) explanation:
USS Liberty was a CIA electronic surveillance spy ship in Israeli waters….WITHOUT USA SIGNAL FLAGS hoisted when the attack began… AND in time of war!!

Israel Intel Corp identified the ship as an Egyptian (spying) fishing vessel, ‘catching’ Israeli chatter (in Hebrew) and relaying it in ARABIC to the Egyptians. That had to end immediately.

trying to ‘look’ American after the attack began… was seen as an Egyptian ploy to evade being destroyed.

anonb

July 12, 2018 at 8:33 pm

What a pile of propaganda from a troll for the racist Israeli land thieves.

rgl

July 13, 2018 at 10:07 pm

Could you please elucidate what benefit to LBJ accrued by the near sinking of a vessel he was in overall command of as Commander-in-Chief?

What possible incentive would LBJ have to do what you suggest. It was treasonous enough that he forbade the Liberty succour from the 6th fleet, not all that terribly far from the Liberty – to avoid embarrassing an ally – but I can discern no reason for LBJ to furnish a sacrificial ship for … what was the reason again?

I remember this deliberate, murderous act of war carried out by the State of Israel against the United States of America. I remember it because its cover-up began immediately, on orders from the top of U.S. federal government. At the time, I was a Radio Intercept Analysis Specialist (RI20250-1) serving with the U.S. Air Force Security Service at the Joint Sobe Processing Center, a signals-intelligence post at Torii Station on Okinawa in the Ryukyu Islands. Physically, we were far from the scene of that atrocious Israeli crime; but we were very near, electronically. In short, yes, the attacking aircraft knew right away it was a U.S. ship and even reported seeing the flag; but they were ordered to proceed. Within several hours the cleaners showed up at our duty station and went through all (as in “all”) our files looking for even the remotest reference to the Israeli crime. We were made to swear never to speak of the crime. The U.S.S. Liberty’s courageous commanding officer received the Medal of Honor, but it wasn’t presented to him by the President at the White House. Such was–and is–the power of Zionist money in the U.S.!

JWalters

July 9, 2018 at 8:34 pm

Thanks for your testimony about the “cleaners”. Your focus on “the power of Zionist money in the U.S.” is right on the money. (Follow the money.)

The evidence is overwhelming that Johnson was Israel’s puppet (NOT the other way around), and Israel has been behind other attacks on America. For readers who haven’t seen it, a deep yet concise review of the main evidence is in “War Profiteer Story”http://warprofiteerstory.blogspot.com

Rex Williams

July 9, 2018 at 5:29 pm

The bombing of the USS Liberty.

One of the international crimes of the century.

I wish you well, Al Awda members. You deserve the recognition you will attract for the crimes committed by the now fascist state of Israel, then and since then for a long 50 years. I respect you all. The world should never forget that day of infamy and Presidential betrayal of what were then, worthy values, now long gone.

Decent Australians wish you well

Rex Williams
Springwood, NSW
Australia

JWalters

July 9, 2018 at 8:53 pm

Amen.

Hide Behind

July 9, 2018 at 5:20 pm

In a nation that is known throughout the world as a flagrant violator of laws defining “Crimes Against Humanity” and protects those ones who commited those crimes, Clintons, Kissinger, Albright, both Bush, Johnson ,Nixon , Rice, Powel, Christ the list goes on and on, while under its’US Flag, why bother to bring up Israel’s transgressions.
That the victims were US military men, USS Liberty, when Israel had previously purged and driven original Arabs out of house and homes, would Israeli actions and thereby sailors of US of been morally correct if the Liberty had not been attacked?
Of course it would of been “correct” back then, just as it is today when our military men are exempt from all acts done under the US Flags towards nations and people’s that pose (d) no threat to US land or peoples.
Brutal torture, arrest and incarceration of wives children and relatives of those pictured on Iraq invasions deck of cards in order for husbands to be made to surrender, and of curse US participation in torture of rendition programs, death penalty under WWII war crimes.
The US military has always been no more than a Corporate arm to be used by financial interest and as an outlet for a huge portion of male populace most baser instincts.
N. Korea, a war not hyped by politico or military, is in news today, which was even more genocidal and criminaly againt all laws of humanity than those carried out against Iraq or destruction upon early Native Americans.
Worship of flag and military uniform is a distinct American disease, one that is supported by indifference and even religions that hide behind its borders, purge those domestic ailments will never happen.
Playing games of compassion, that hide behind good intentions, are no more than profit and ego trips for participants, a vacation jaunt by taxable deductions.

“Worship of flag and military uniform is a distinct American disease….” Is it? Is it, really? No Africans, no Asians, no Europeans, no Oceanians have ever demonstrated “worship of flag and military uniform”? History, I take it, is not a subject you’ve studied a great deal.

JWalters

July 9, 2018 at 8:56 pm

I’d add ancient Rome and ancient Israel (Deuteronomy).

anon

July 9, 2018 at 9:49 pm

He may be merely noting the distinct applicability of that disease description to the US, rather than insisting that it is uniquely American.

I would say that yes, this disease could well be, if not distinctly American, a phenomenon of the so-called 1st world insomuch as it plays itself out through the acquiescence of a very ingenuous part of the population to the call for patriotism. Those that fall into such a trap must believe in their government.
People in developing countries having endured the oppression of despots, are unlikely to face that call without cynicism. They’re more likely to enter the game under coercion and or promises of a cut of the spoils.
Germans were beyond desperate for a solution to their economic plight and through that desperation, welcomed a “saviour”.

Hide Behind

July 9, 2018 at 11:51 pm

Beg to differ History, and not just US, s and always been my passion, could read and comprehend at 4 years of age and first book I owned, a gift from Grandfather, was Plutrach Lives, at 6 years.
Family history in US begins in 1660-70, and was a part of family’s pride.
I walked those colonial, stones in Boston, Pennsylvania, seen the Liberty Bell, Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and Bill of Rights, and also walked the early battlefields and read ancestors accounts of those times.
Real accounts and not some lying child’s history memes taught in public schools.
Knew family .embers and their friends who were veterans as far back as Spanish American War, and not the F’n historicly dumb as rock Nationalist fakers of today’s Patriotism bullshi….s.
I will put money up against any Historian outside of Ivy Halls of disinformation and indoctrination.
History is anthropology, archaeology, study of languages and along with Philosophical teachings.
My instance is of today’s US, it is what over 200 years of mainly that of huberistic white superiority, a self delusional mental state, a trait that is distinctly rooted in British and Eurocentric.
It comes from “indoctrination” not education.

Rob Roy

July 10, 2018 at 10:23 am

I’ve studied history “a great deal” and no country ever, even Britain in it’s rotten heyday, has been as devastating to the rest of the world as the USA. Right now, it’s planning wars with Russia and Iran. It’s a sick country and won’t stop until it destroys the planet.

rgl

July 13, 2018 at 10:33 pm

I think that statement is only valid due the proliferation of nuke arms. The potential to destroy the planet’s eco systems, both homo-sapiens, and those ‘below’ us on the evolutionary chart: the animal world, and both Democrats and Republicans, did not exist during the height of any single empire save America’s.

It is illustrative that you say ‘destroys the planet’. We won’t destroy the planet, we do not have the means. We CAN destroy every. single. living. thing. on it, but in a couple thousand years, the planet will again flourish. This time perhaps without us humans to screw it up.

Our destiny is entirely in our own hands, as it has always been. Will we finally develop the wisdom, tolerance, intelligence to survive our own hubris?

What information was obtained by the USS Liberty? Why did the Israelis stop the attack before the Liberty was sunk and all aboard killed?

Pft

July 9, 2018 at 8:10 pm

Evidence that Israel was the aggressor. US/LBJ offer of support for them in any War was conditional on them not being the aggressor.

The attack likely was called off after Washington let it be known they knew what was happening. LBJ then covered it up to prevent a backlash against Israel and stopped his substantial weapons sales to Israel

Soldim

July 10, 2018 at 3:05 am

The Liberty was a listening ship. The attack came as Sharon was carrying out his incursion into Egypt having made his famous flanking move and crossed the Nile in the south. The Israelis massacred every village on the way. The Liberty picked it all up through sigint, including the orders from Israeli commanders to commit attrocities

Joe Meadors is one courageous man! He could have been killed in the unprovoked attack on the Liberty and yet he is going right back into that Israeli killing zone to bring attention to the war crimes of the state of Israel.

Joe Brandone

July 9, 2018 at 9:43 pm

Yes, his courage and sense of duty are very inspiring. He must see that his own record cannot be ignored if the vessel is attacked: the Liberty and his former comrades will be immortalized among those who exposed the crimes of Israel.

But I wish that some more powerful nation like Russia, Spain, or Italy would provide them an escort, and let any encounter serve as the entre to break the blockade and fortify Gaza. A reverse “Liberty” incident. That would be a positive move for Russia, and would further expose the depravity of the US politicians bought by the zionists.

Gennaro Pasquale

July 9, 2018 at 2:57 pm

Hooray for Joe Meadows

Litchfield

July 9, 2018 at 3:38 pm

Meadors.

michael

July 9, 2018 at 2:34 pm

I just finished reading a second book “Rememeber the Liberty” by Philip F. Nelson; highly recommend it. Meadors is quoted throughout and the research and documentation are very complete. His thesis is that LBJ planned the attack as a false flag to draw U.S. into the war in support of Israel which would give him victory and propel him to reelection the following year since vietnam was going to hell for him. if true (I believe it is) it’s treason, appalling how survivors were treated and threatened if they talked…

I am not sure that the “false flag” thesis is correct. If I am recalling correctly, there are recordings of an Israeli pilot, who was in the process of attacking the Liberty—-that he told his controller that the ship was flying a US flag. The response to the pilot, was to attack as you were ordered.
More than likely—the Israelis were well aware that the Liberty was an “Intel” ship, with all of the antennas. I am pretty sure that before the Liberty entered those water—-that the US government would have told all of the surrounding countries—that she would be where she was. I am thinking that Israel —who was planning an invasion of Gaza—-did not want any news of their plans getting out. So they opted to sink or cause the Liberty to be unable to conduct its mission. Whether anyone in our government or military were complicit with the Israeli action—-is unclear. What is perfectly clear—-that since that fatal day—-there has been radio silence from both the government and the military. That in itself speaks volumes about the influence of Israel on US policy.

Richard M

July 10, 2018 at 4:34 pm

Very unlikely that in 1967 Israel would have acted unilaterally and so boldly and at such high risk as to murder American sailors and expect to do it with absolute impunity, with a mere public apology for the “mistaken identity” being the only downside for them. 51 years ago, Israel was not yet at the point where it is today, committing crimes and atrocities in its area with complete confidence the US would continue its full reflexive support no matter what.

Richard M

July 10, 2018 at 4:24 pm

A new, long-awaited book by Prof Joan Mellen, “Blood in the Water: How the US and Israel Conspired to Ambush the USS Liberty”, proposing a similar thesis (last I heard), will be published this Nov. Pre-order now at Amazon, according to author’s website joanmellen.com.

Aime Duclos

July 9, 2018 at 1:41 pm

Unidentified aircraft… I remember the day very well. Horrific. Who ever made the decision to recall the fighters and the fleet knew the identity of the aircraft and has a lot to account for. Would have been wonderful if the 6th fleet had retaliated in kind. I mean, I’m not a vengeful person, but some one, perhaps several people should have been, and still should be, held accountable… and Israelies, too.

lysias

July 9, 2018 at 8:51 pm

McNamara and LBJ knew the attackers were Israeli before the Liberty had identified their national. The commander of the Med Fleet was told LBJ didn’t want to embarrass an ally. LBJ was in on the plot in advance.

I agree with the indignation voiced in the previous replies. If you think that Israel had inordinate impact on the US government back in 1967———–you should not be surprised how much control they have now. Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, apparently has an open invitation from the US Congress, to come and speak before that body—any time he wants. One of Trump’s advisers / lawyers, is a guy by the name of Jay Sekulow. I noticed he came on the scene decades ago, and was involved in Pat Robertson’s evangelical TV ministry. Back then I just watched the right wing preachers / healers—just to see how they scammed the poor. Sekulow—who is Jewish, cam on the Robertson’s CBN 700 Clug—-with a new group he formed, called “Jews for Jesus”. Basically, the plan was to gain inroads into the Evangelical movement——–and to try and convince the flock, that indeed the Jews were the “chosen” people, and that the Evangelicals would be blessed if they supported Israel—with money and their votes. In the last Presidential election 80% of the Evangelicals voted for Trump. After he got elected, he moved the US Embassy to Jerusalem, to reward the Evangelicals. In previous administrations, Israel had a lot of power, now they have much more. They are part of the reason we are so heavily involved in the Middle East. While Israel has consistently violated norms—-the United Nations has not been able to do much—because the US always votes for Israel in the Security Council–no matter what they do.

Donald Forbes

July 9, 2018 at 1:13 pm

Lyndon Johnson was President at the time.

floyd gardner

July 9, 2018 at 3:02 pm

Right. JFK would have handled matters MUCH differently – which is one of the prime reasons he was executed.

As an American Jew and veteran of the Korean conflict, I welcome Joe Meadors addition to the flotilla heading toward Gaza. Perhaps more importantly, I am delighted that a journalist of Joe Lauria’s standing has re-aired the facts en re the atrocious acts perpetrated by an alleged democracy on a country that has irrationally provided Israel’s Zionists aid and comfort for lo these many years. They are a murderous bunch of thugs and will do anything (witness the slaughter of civilians in Gaza) for the survival of their Zionist state, and to the detriment of world peace and order. I have no illusions as to the outcome of either the flotilla or this excellent article. It’s a simple case of: money talks!
.

Halima

July 9, 2018 at 1:12 pm

Well said?

Halima

July 9, 2018 at 1:13 pm

Yes, someone feared to speak the truth

Guest

July 9, 2018 at 1:00 pm

The attack occurred on day 4 of the 6-Day War. The Liberty was monitoring the Egyptian theater which was pretty much under Israeli control by that time. So it’s hard to see how Israel could have been concerned about the US divulging or acting on any intelligence regarding military operations in Egypt. Besides, weren’t Soviet vessels, who as Arab allies would be motivated hurt Israeli interests, also monitoring the situation? Why weren’t Soviet vessels attacked?

My suspicion is that the Liberty received intelligence on Israeli nuclear weapons deployments that were intended to backstop the attack on Egypt if the Israeli attack failed and Israel faced a counterattack by Egypt. These weapons were likely made from highly enriched uranium stolen from a US defense plant a few years earlier. It would be the first implementation of the “Samson Option”.

It is the only explanation that can account for what was a deliberate series of attacks on the Liberty and its crew attempting to abandon ship.

John P

July 9, 2018 at 4:38 pm

From my understanding the US was anti Egyptian nationalism and supported Israel’s attack on Egypt, and only Egypt. The Israeli plan was to destroy the Egyptian air-force and then pull much of their military ground teams and take the Golan before the US realized what was happening. They wanted to destroy any possibility of the Liberty conveying any such information to the US. In order for that to succeed, Israeli tried hard to make sure that the Liberty sank quickly and no body survived to tell the true story. Israel failed and showed its true colours.

jsintoh

July 9, 2018 at 6:03 pm

Johnson wanted in on the Six Day war for numerous reasons.
Kick the Russians out of Egypt
Install of friendly govenment in Egypt
Support Israel
Support reelection

I would add, Johnson might have wanted a major, long-lasting distraction, a rally-round-the-flag incident, which could take people’s minds off of the increasingly unpopular VN War. Such cynical manipulation of the public for his own political advantage would be consistent with the way he arranged for a little faux incident in the Gulf of Tonkin, conveniently occurring after the Republicans left their Convention in July but before the Dem convention in August, where LBJ could be portrayed as being neither softy dove nor crazy hawk, a stable helmsman of the ship of state, firm about upholding US interests and defending US military personnel yet not going off half-cocked like Barry Goldwater would.

Both Johnson and SecDef McNamara were complicit in what was probably LBJ’s deranged idea to enhance his re-elect prospects. Johnson should have been impeached and brought up on criminal charges along with Mac and a few others. But of course the heavy-handed coverup was put in place at the outset and was effective for decades. Johnson had plenty of experience with major coverups by 1967, and not just from the event of 11-22-63, and so must have felt confident he would never be embarrassed in his lifetime.

Gregory Herr

July 9, 2018 at 7:57 pm

Itzhak Yaakov, a retired brigadier general who oversaw weapons development for the Israeli military, was arrested in 2001 (at age 75) for talking to a reporter about Israel’s nuclear weapons program. Seems there may have been a contingency plan by Israel to use a nuke.

But I don’t think Israel had any worries about being crossed by Johnson. And Johnson’s initial intervention to stop the rescue mission by the 6th Fleet doesn’t prove foreknowledge…but it sure smells like it. Johnson wanted the ship sunk. Could have been a false flag cookup.

Then there is the story of former Air Force pilot Jim Nanjo who flew a nuclear loaded B-52 for the Strategic Air Command. On June 8th, between 2 and 4 AM California Pacific time, Jim Nanjo and his bomber group were awakened by an alarm and where in their planes within 3 minutes. The USS Liberty was attacked at 5AM California Pacific time. Did you catch that? The US nuclear bomber plans were scrambled in a massive alert 1-3 hours BEFORE the international incident attack on the USS Liberty by Israel. This is from the book “Operation Cyanide”, by Peter Hounam. Nothing I can verify, but cause for wonder.

lysias

July 9, 2018 at 8:41 pm

I just read the book “Remember the Liberty!” by Phillip Nelson and three Liberty survivors. If I understood correctly, Nelson has recently spoken to Nanjo, and he still tells the same story.

Richard M

July 10, 2018 at 4:01 pm

There is another author with a book in prep on this subject who is also a proponent of the LBJ False Flag for 68 Victory thesis. An east-coast academic, with a little more credibility than Phil Nelson, she gave a podcast interview several years ago boldly proposing this, so I wonder if Nelson heard it and was following in her footsteps. In any case, I will take a look, and thanks for the tip. It goes without saying that a beyond-bold independent author like Nelson, who believes Johnson was the mastermind of the JFK assassination, would be shut out of the national media, except perhaps for late-night UFO radio shows, so it’s no wonder I never heard of his USS Liberty book from last year.

Richard M

July 10, 2018 at 4:44 pm

Just learned that Prof Joan Mellen’s new book on this subject, Blood in the Water, will be published in Nov, pre-order now at Amazon. I would expect her book to get more coverage overall, while still being largely shut out of the MSM, as compared to Nelson’s. She is well respected in the JFK research community. And she also makes for a far better interview, with all her energy and articulateness, her extensive research fueling her ability to quickly call forth many interesting, little-known facts.

John P

July 9, 2018 at 11:24 pm

Interesting Gregory, thanks. I’m thinking the besides fear that Israel had nuclear weapons, most American politicians are concerned about press reports and money from Zionists. In the 73 war, Israel was ready to use nukes on the Arab states, however, I can’t imagine them using them on the US.
As for a false flag, I find that hard to believe because both Israel and America knew that Egypt was going to lose if war broke out. They had just got whipped in a war to their south and were in no position to take on Israel. The Egyptians with unsubstantial forces on the ground and having lost their air-force (their missile defence system was shut off because according to Sadat, military staff were flying out into the desert to visit the soldiers), would Israel or America need a false flag and this was on the 3rd day?
From what I read, Johnson was all for getting rid of Nasser and Egyptian nationalism and the instructions were specifically, Egypt only. I mean there were hassles on the Syrian border with Israel abusing water rights and if I remember correctly some other issues before the war started, but Israel was told only go for Egypt.

John P

July 9, 2018 at 11:41 pm

I forgot to mention this point. The US had given Israel the okay to attack Egypt, a Russian interest in the region. Would that not be a good reason to have the B52s in the air? What if Russia had struck back at the states? With the planes in the air the Russians might be less likely to strike.

lysias

July 9, 2018 at 8:36 pm

If the Liberty received such intel, it would immediately have relayed it to NSA headquarters. So sinking the ship and killing the crew would have accomplished noting.

lysias

July 9, 2018 at 8:37 pm

Nothing.

John P

July 10, 2018 at 7:18 pm

The Israelis went after Egypt first, knocked out the air-force and secured their position over the first couple of days. Once that side was secured then they had to move forces over to the Syrian side. As there were already tit-for-tat offences already going on there, the movement might not have been noticed for some time. Once enough forces were moved over then Israel was ready to do it’s wicked attack on the Liberty and take the Golan.

Mary

July 9, 2018 at 12:43 pm

I pray for that man and the rest of the brave men going to help imprisoned people of Palestine. However knowing israel mo they are going to have a rough time.

Bob Van Noy

July 9, 2018 at 12:40 pm

Many Thanks Joe Lauria for this important report. And, of course, Joe Meadors for your continued heroism through the years, tho I suspect that you’d say you’re only doing your duty…

Sam F. And Joe, I’m with both of you as always. I honestly think that we’re not far from the necessary investigation into President Johnson’s motivations during this disgraceful event and I’m also convinced that shining a bright light on The Liberty will lead us to President Kennedy and beyond. It is an essential pursuit for our own Liberty. Many Thanks to all…

Skip Scott

July 9, 2018 at 7:45 am

The continued silence from the MSM regarding the attack on the USS Liberty is deafening. Even to this day, most Americans have never heard of it. We get local TV from Philadelphia here in south Jersey, and the congressional candidates for Pennsylvania are trading ads that basically argue about who is the best friend of Israel. No actual discussion of Israel’s foreign policy, just an ass-kissing contest. No other foreign power has that kind of clout.

Joe Tedesky

July 9, 2018 at 9:03 am

You got that right Skip. Often when speaking with people I will ask them if they had ever heard about the USS Liberty, and they say, no. Utterly amazing, and scary sad, that so many don’t know of this horrific happening in our U.S. Navy’s history. Although equally as often the same people have little to no knowledge about the atrocities committed by the Israeli’s in regard to Gaza. This on going war crime, and it’s lack of being reported properly by our MSM is even more disheartening in a country where freedom of the press is bragged about. Joe

Realist

July 9, 2018 at 4:17 pm

And, Israel will counter you with one word which, apparently, sways the clueless American people every time: “antisemitism.” If you value your own life and freedom more than the prerogatives of the Jewish state to run roughshod over whomever it chooses, you are effectively defined as a hatemongering antisemite, disapproving of merely whom they are rather than what they do. You might as well be “Herr Schicklegrubber’s” BFF. The Israeli government has played the fools in Washington like a Stradivarius since 1947, and the fools have in turn faithfully hoodwinked the American people ever after. The only other country that Israel has as effectively cowed as the United States is Russia. How can this be? Their “associates” control banking, the money supply, the means of production, the media and the elected political leadership throughout the developed world. Well, that and successfully running the worldwide con about having been chosen by God to dominate this planet for the last few thousand years. Don’t mean to steal PCR’s or Saker’s thunder, but duh!

Joe, if the people we both talk to didn’t hear about a thing on Entertainment Tonight, as far as they are concerned, it didn’t happen, especially if it seems counterintuitive to the Standard Anglo-Zionist Narrative. Moreover, they probably assume you are an antisemitic tool of Putin for bringing it up–as Glenn Greenwald is now being portrayed. After all, “Putler” simply can’t stop trying to poison the good folks in Britain and Syria. What more do you need to know? Just ask Hillary if you feel confused.

jsinton

July 9, 2018 at 6:08 pm

Liberty sinking “news” was always a non-starter if in-fact it was ordered by Johnson as a false-flag attack. Mind control of the masses became organized after WWI when mass media became more concentrated.

bob reynolds

July 9, 2018 at 7:06 am

I’m 87 years old and obviously had a “senior moment”. I made the request in 2017 on the 50th anniversary of the attack. As a Korean vet must have mixed it up with the anniversary of the truce. Oy!

bob reynolds

July 9, 2018 at 6:59 am

This year was the 65th anniversary of the attack on the Liberty. I tried to get Florida Senators Nelson and Rubio and my representative Rep. Yoho to sponsor a resolution honoring the men of the Liberty and their bravery.
Lots of luck with that! I got one reply, from Sen. Nelson, that was so vague and poorly written it could have been
answering a request for a picture of his dog. Each year the Jacksonville FL Mayport Naval Base has a
ceremony honoring the USS Starke, they even have a permanent memorial on base. Never have I heard
of a naval facility holding a ceremony to honor the Liberty. Over the years I have from time to time asked
newspapers to honor the Liberty on the anniversary of the attack. Once and only once did I get one to
do so and that story tried to “balance” by including the Israeli claim of a mistake, only a mistake.

bg

July 9, 2018 at 7:14 am

Better double check your math… the attack was in 1967. Last year was the big anniversary, and it was totally ignored.